Latest news with #HospitalforSickChildren
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Health
- Ottawa Citizen
Community Builders: 57 Ride
For John Gomes, father of four and founder of the 57 Ride, the mission is simple: ride, raise hope and help families facing the unthinkable. Article content From June 12 to 14, Gomes and a small group of friends and fellow dads will cycle from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa — more than 450 kilometres — to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer. Article content Article content Named after a sentimental reminder of Gomes's late father, the 57 Ride supports two grassroots causes: the Phoebe Rose Rock Committee at the Kindred Foundation and the Griffin Bell Golden Endowment Fund at CHEO. Proceeds will go directly to helping families who must travel long distances for treatment and to funding critical research for hard-to-treat childhood cancers. Article content 'I have four healthy kids,' Gomes said. 'Why wouldn't I go do this? We've met these oncology families; their stories break your heart. This is how we help.' Article content The route, a three-day endurance challenge, will take riders from SickKids to Peterborough, on to Perth, and finally to CHEO for a celebratory lap. It's not a race; it's a show of solidarity. Article content 'It's me and a couple of close friends, supported by another buddy driving a 'blister bus,'' Gomes jokes about the Ford F150 from Lincoln Heights Ford. 'We're all fit dads in our 40s, and we can still do hard things,' Gomes adds. He will be joined by Jeff Delgado and James Van Toever, and Konrad Eyvindson will be on driving duty. Article content Article content He calls it a 'mom-and-pop lemonade stand' kind of event: local, personal and powered by community love. 'The world feels like it's on fire,' Gomes said. 'We're just trying to do something kind. That's where change starts, with your community.' Article content Article content Article content Article content
Hamilton Spectator
20-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Those kids were her world': Children killed in Highway 401 crash involving allegedly impaired driver identified
A Toronto woman has lost 'her world' as she struggles in hospital to recover from injuries after an alleged drunk driver struck her family's car, killing three of her children — Ramone, 15, Jace, 13, and Maya Lavina, 6. Family friend Ervin Garcia, who confirmed the identities of the family, got a call from the children's father, Maverick Lavina, on Sunday afternoon with the shocking news. It happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said. Ethan Lehouillier has been charged with three counts of impaired operation causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. When Garcia heard from his friend, Maverick, 'I just literally stopped dead in the middle of the street. 'I was in the Esplanade area (downtown Toronto) and a million drivers must have been honking at me,' he said. 'I was overcome with grief. I had to pull over a couple of times.' The father, who was not in the car, told Garcia that only one of his four children survived: 10-year-old Avery, who is Garcia's godson, and that Avery was recovering at the Hospital for Sick Children. Avery suffered a broken arm, broken collarbone and numerous cuts and bruises to his face, Garcia said. Three children died and three other individuals are recovering after a suspected impaired driver crashed into a minivan stopped at a red light early Sunday morning in Etobicoke, police said. The children's mother, Jade Galve, who was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital following the crash, suffered several broken ribs and a severe concussion, along with other injuries. 'She's in a very severe amount of pain,' Garcia said. 'Those kids were her world, as much as they were Maverick's.' A man who is a family friend was also seriously injured in the crash. Garcia said he and several other friends rushed to SickKids to be with Maverick and his son. 'It's a miracle he survived,' Garcia said of his godson, whom he said was up and trying to walk with the assistance of his father when he arrived at the hospital. Police allege that the Georgetown man was driving a minivan at a high rate of speed when he lost control on the off-ramp, drove over a raised median on Renforth Drive and crashed into the vehicle, which was stopped at a red light. Ramone and Jace were pronounced dead at the scene. Six-year-old Maya was rushed to hospital but later died. The crash happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said. Garcia said his busy schedule has limited his ability to see the Lavina children as often as he would've liked in recent years, but he has kept in close contact with Lavina. The two worked together for several years doing brick and stone masonry work on residential and commercial buildings, he added. Garcia, 36, has known both parents since they were in their mid-teens and said he and Lavina, now in his mid-30s, developed their bond playing basketball in the Scarborough Filipino community leagues. A GoFundMe , set up by another family friend, has already raised more than $96,000 in support of the bereaved family. While Garcia said he is thankful for the outpouring of support, the heavy toll of the crash is immeasurable and 'we could raise $10 million and it would never replace those kids.' A note posted to the GoFundMe reads that the family requests 'assistance to help them navigate this dark hour be it through donation or spreading awareness for them.' The scene of the fatal crash. The Toronto Catholic District School Board confirmed that all four Lavina children are students with the board. 'We are heartbroken by this loss, which will be felt deeply throughout our entire school community,' a TCDSB spokesperson said in an email to the Star. The email also said that mental health and faith-based supports will be available to students and staff beginning Tuesday, including social work and psychology teams. 'In light of the ongoing police investigation, and out of respect for the family and our grieving school communities, our focus remains on offering support, care, and prayer for all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy.' Garcia said he's 'angry with the suspect,' for what was a 'reckless and totally preventable crash.' 'These are three children's lives that were taken away from them,' he said. 'They were never able to fulfil their full potential in life.'
Toronto Star
20-05-2025
- Toronto Star
‘Those kids were her world': Children killed in Highway 401 crash involving allegedly impaired driver identified
A Toronto woman has lost 'her world' as she struggles in hospital to recover from injuries after an alleged drunk driver struck her family's car, killing three of her children — Ramone, 15, Jace, 13, and Maya Lavina, 6. Family friend Ervin Garcia, who confirmed the identities of the family, got a call from the children's father, Maverick Lavina, on Sunday afternoon with the shocking news. It happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Ethan Lehouillier has been charged with three counts of impaired operation causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. When Garcia heard from his friend, Maverick, 'I just literally stopped dead in the middle of the street. 'I was in the Esplanade area (downtown Toronto) and a million drivers must have been honking at me,' he said. 'I was overcome with grief. I had to pull over a couple of times.' The father, who was not in the car, told Garcia that only one of his four children survived: 10-year-old Avery, who is Garcia's godson, and that Avery was recovering at the Hospital for Sick Children. Avery suffered a broken arm, broken collarbone and numerous cuts and bruises to his face, Garcia said. The victims of the crash off Highway 401 near Etobicoke have been identified as Jace (left), Ramone (centre) and Maya Lavina, according to a family friend. Screengrab The children's mother, Jade Galve, who was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital following the crash, suffered several broken ribs and a severe concussion, along with other injuries. 'She's in a very severe amount of pain,' Garcia said. 'Those kids were her world, as much as they were Maverick's.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Gta 'A family is torn apart': Three children killed after vehicle struck by allegedly impaired driver on Highway 401 near Etobicoke Anastasia Blosser, Joyce Li, Jason Miller A man who is a family friend was also seriously injured in the crash. Garcia said he and several other friends rushed to SickKids to be with Maverick and his son. 'It's a miracle he survived,' Garcia said of his godson, whom he said was up and trying to walk with the assistance of his father when he arrived at the hospital. Police allege that the Georgetown man was driving a minivan at a high rate of speed when he lost control on the off-ramp, drove over a raised median on Renforth Drive and crashed into the vehicle, which was stopped at a red light. Ramone and Jace were pronounced dead at the scene. Six-year-old Maya was rushed to hospital but later died. The crash happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said. @freetorcam / X Garcia said his busy schedule has limited his ability to see the Lavina children as often as he would've liked in recent years, but he has kept in close contact with Lavina. The two worked together for several years doing brick and stone masonry work on residential and commercial buildings, he added. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Garcia, 36, has known both parents since they were in their mid-teens and said he and Lavina, now in his mid-30s, developed their bond playing basketball in the Scarborough Filipino community leagues. A GoFundMe, set up by another family friend, has already raised more than $96,000 in support of the bereaved family. While Garcia said he is thankful for the outpouring of support, the heavy toll of the crash is immeasurable and 'we could raise $10 million and it would never replace those kids.' A note posted to the GoFundMe reads that the family requests 'assistance to help them navigate this dark hour be it through donation or spreading awareness for them.' The scene of the fatal crash. @freetorcam / X The Toronto Catholic District School Board confirmed that all four Lavina children are students with the board. 'We are heartbroken by this loss, which will be felt deeply throughout our entire school community,' a TCDSB spokesperson said in an email to the Star. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The email also said that mental health and faith-based supports will be available to students and staff beginning Tuesday, including social work and psychology teams. 'In light of the ongoing police investigation, and out of respect for the family and our grieving school communities, our focus remains on offering support, care, and prayer for all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy.' Garcia said he's 'angry with the suspect,' for what was a 'reckless and totally preventable crash.' 'These are three children's lives that were taken away from them,' he said. 'They were never able to fulfil their full potential in life.'
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors discover new cause of autism: 'Fourteen times more likely'
Autism may be caused by a little-known genetic condition, experts say. They've found children with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) are also 14 times more likely to develop autistic spectrum disorder. DM1 is a disorder people inherit from their parents that causes progressive muscle weakness, fatigue, and a host of cognitive issues. Experts believe it may also affect how the brain develops and processes information in early life, potentially altering neural pathways linked to communication, behavior, and social interaction — hallmarks of autism. The discovery could help unlock part of the mystery around how autism develops, providing vital clues to its biological roots. DM1 is caused by a faulty gene, and now researchers believe that gene may also play a role in autism. The researchers said the findings are a step closer to understanding autism not just as a spectrum — but as something with specific, traceable origins. And crucially, it raises hopes for more targeted support for patients with both conditions and treatment that focuses on repairing damaged genes. However, the team also emphasized DM1 is significantly more rare than autism, and not everyone with DM1 will be diagnosed with autism. In DM1, DNA strands in a gene called DMPK repeat, a process called tandem repeat expansions (TREs), causing the gene to not function properly. For people with DM1, this leads to symptoms like progressive muscle weakness and involuntary movements. The functional errors lead to protein imbalances affecting other genes responsible for brain function. The researchers said these gene impairments may cause people with DM1 to develop signs of autism like repetitive movements, a lack of coordination and sensory issues. While autism affects about 7million Americans, only about 140,000 are diagnosed with DM1. The study authors, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), said the findings could make it easier to diagnose autism in people with conditions like DM1 and lead to treatments to repair the damaged genes. Dr Ryan Yuen, study author and senior scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Las Vegas, said: 'Our findings represent a new way to characterize the genetic development of autism. 'By identifying the molecular pathway behind this connection, we can begin to investigate new approaches to ASD diagnosis and the development of precision therapies that release these proteins back into the genome.' This means essential proteins sapped away from DNA could be added back, repairing faulty genes and preventing further errors from appearing. Meanwhile, another new study from researchers in China found a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment may improve certain autism signs like trouble sleeping and issues with social interaction. The treatment, called transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) involves sending electrical impulses through electrodes that are placed on a patient's scalp. The signals coming through the electrodes are thought to increase brain activity in certain areas. The team found children ages three to 14 who received 20 tPCS sessions over four weeks had 'significant' improvements in sleep, language, sensory issues and socialization. Both studies come as the latest CDC data shows autism is on the rise in the US, affecting one in 31 children. This is a staggering increase from one in 150 in the early 2000s. While many experts believe the rise is due to better screening and diagnostics, health authorities like Robert F Kennedy Jr believe environmental factors like pesticides, food additives and ultrasound scans could be to blame. In the UNLV study, published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers analyzed RNA in 38 gene sets from people with and without autism. RNA is a key molecule that helps cells build proteins and function properly. The team found that when the DMPK gene responsible for DM1 repeats, it creates 'toxic RNA' that binds to proteins involved in DNA production during brain development. That 'toxic RNA' depletes the protein and prevents it from binding the other RNA molecules, causing a protein imbalance and errors in other surrounding genes. Dr Yuen said: 'TREs are like a sponge that absorbs all these important proteins from the genome. Without this protein, other areas of the genome don't function properly.' The researchers noted both DM1, the muscle-weakening condition, and autism can both be caused by repetitions in the DMPK gene. Dr Lukasz Sznajder, a research lead and assistant professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), said: 'A variation really stood out to me that we see in rare neuromuscular disease. 'This is how we started connecting the dots. We found a molecular link, or overlap, which we believe is the core of causing autistic symptoms in children with myotonic dystrophy.' DM1 leads to muscle weakness around the limbs and, as it progresses, vital organs like the heart and lungs. This leads to abnormal heart rhythms and breathing issues. Symptoms typically appear in adolescence or young adulthood and start with weakness around the muscles in the face, neck, fingers and ankles. The condition affects 140,000 Americans and the life expectancy is around 48 to 55 years. The study authors said more research is needed connecting DM1 to autism, but the group is planning to look at if these DNA errors are occurring in other genes that have been associated with autism.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Treat childhood obesity by reducing stigma, adding options, say new Canadian guidelines
Brenndon Goodman was nine years old when a doctor told him he would be dead by 30 if he couldn't get his weight under control. "You're going through all the issues a normal nine-year-old goes through. On top of that, also being told you're overweight, you're an aberration. For me, I felt like I was a failure," said Goodman, 30, who lives in Thornhill, Ont. He said he remembers endless — and unhelpful — appointments at weight-loss programs that amounted to cookie-cutter diet plans and shame. What finally worked was when a team of doctors, dietitians, specialists and psychologists at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children started telling him about the psychological and genetic aspects of obesity. That kind of collaborative and inclusive approach should be what all doctors and nurses take when treating children struggling with obesity, say the authors of new Canadian clinical practice guidelines published on Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The authors say doctors should make sure patients and families are well informed and included in any decision-making. They also say that health-care workers should provide psychological treatments like counselling for behavioural change, along with such strategies as improving nutrition and physical activity. "In terms of, you know, the 'eat less, move more' movement, we know that alone, as a treatment for obesity, does not provide sustained success," said Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, a professor in the psychiatry department at the University of Toronto and scientific director at the non-profit Obesity Canada, which co-developed the new guidelines. In some cases, the authors say, families should also be given a chance to consider medications, like GLP-1s — sold under brand names like Ozempic or Mounjaro — which mimic the naturally occurring hormone to help regulate appetite and blood sugar levels, and are widely used for Type 2 diabetes or weight loss. The guidelines also say some children struggling with weight management could be considered for weight loss surgery, under certain conditions. It's the first time the guidelines have been updated since 2007 — and they are long overdue, say some experts. Dr. Jill Hamilton, head of the endocrinology division at the Hospital for Sick Children and a co-author of the guidelines, says so much has changed in how doctors treat children struggling with weight management since the guidelines were last updated almost 20 years ago. (Turgut Yeter/CBC ) "A lot has changed in how we manage children, and there's a lot of new literature as well," said Dr. Jill Hamilton, head of the endocrinology division at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the co-authors of the guidelines. "For so long, we focused on just weight or [body mass index] as an outcome," she said. "Other outcomes are as important, or more important, than that to families. Things like improving health-related quality of life," such as high blood pressure, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety or bullying. New guidelines target stigma The new guidelines also talk about the stigma associated with obesity. It's a huge change from the guidelines published in 2007, where the word "stigma" isn't mentioned. "We've had a long-standing history in obesity care and management, where people have attributed it as something to do with willpower," Sockalingam said. "All that stigma just perpetuates all the negative experiences, especially children and youth experience day to day." 'In terms of, you know, the 'eat less, move more' movement, we know that alone ... does not provide sustained success,' says Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, scientific director of Obesity Canada. (Obesity Canada) The new guidelines instead define childhood obesity as a chronic, stigmatized and progressive disease, characterized by the presence of excess body fat that could impact a patient's health or well-being. "It is a complex chronic disease, and like other chronic diseases, we need more tools in the toolbox to treat it," Sockalingam said. Encouraging health-care providers to recognize obesity as such, he said, might encourage more research that could help scientists nail down the best markers to define and treat the condition. But others say the new guidelines don't go far enough in breaking down the stigma associated with childhood obesity. Vincci Tsui, a registered dietitian based in Calgary and the founder of Weight-Inclusive Dietitians in Canada, said while it's good that the guidelines emphasize the importance of addressing weight stigma, a higher body weight shouldn't be treated as a disease in and of itself. "The problem is when you pathologize a body size, or pathologize this idea of 'excess body fat,' that in and of itself also increases stigma," she said. WATCH | Moving away from the stigma of BMI toward a focus on treatment: Medication and bariatric surgery Tsui said health-care providers should keep in mind that the guidelines recommend stronger interventions, like taking GLP-1 drugs or undergoing bariatric surgery, only in certain conditions, such as after a risk-benefit analysis. She also cautioned that there's not a huge amount of evidence about the side effects of drugs like GLP-1s for children — something also noted by Hamilton, one of the co-authors. "Currently it's only recommended for ages 12 and up, and obviously further research is needed because these are relatively new medications," Hamilton said. "More work is needed in this area in all age groups, but also especially in pediatrics." Ultimately, Hamilton said, health-care providers should respect the families' views and wishes, including when it comes to more invasive interventions like surgery — especially for children who have significant health conditions associated with obesity, such as obstructive sleep apnea or insulin resistance. For some kids, like Brenndon Goodman, weight-loss surgery can really make a positive difference. "It's a choice I would make again a hundred times," he said, because he was able to think about it carefully and felt supported by a good team long after the procedure. Goodman said he's hoping that young people and families also get a chance to make that decision, if that's what they want and need. WATCH | Surgery, drugs recommended in U.S. childhood obesity guidelines:
